What a great find! Our 2nd visit to this gem. It is a true chef restaurant. The chef cooks in the table area and if you request the chefs table you can watch the whole operation. While there is a shall standard menu, the waitress will present you with many specialties. The appetizers are fabulous... I had a shrimp dish and my wife the broccoli rabe. I had fantastic veal for dinner. All good including deserts. Bring your own drinks. Cash only. It's a winner! read more

Loved it!! Great food, atmosphere, music.....felt like I was dining with a room full of friends. DO NOT BE FOOLED by the outside.....very nondescript entrance in a strip mall. Walk into a lovely little dining spot very reminiscent of Lucca, Italy....which is the home of Giacomo Puccini himself. And, boy...would he be proud of what they've done with the place and his glorious music! The food is superb, simply put. Everything is fresh, cooked perfectly and presented piping hot and perfectly timed between courses. Nothing overpowers the flavor of the dish...perfect blend of ingredients. Chef is great....nice and cute, too. Wait staff is excellent and not stuffy in any way.......she made us feel very much "at home". BYOB and no corkage fee....keeps prices fair and reasonable. A must if you enjoy excellent food in a friendly environment....I'LL BE BACK!!! read more

We had an amazing dinner here last night at the Chef's table. Every dish put out by Chef Richard was delicious and the service was great. Our table of 4 all had scrumptious scallops for an appetizer and pompano over lobster ravioli for dinner. Everyone raved about it! The pecan pie was the best I've ever had. We will definitely be returning here soon. read more

Loved absolutely everything! Setting, staff, and food are on point! I cannot rave enough.

If you're into being treated rudely and overpaying for bland food, this is the place for you. A lot of people who don't seem to know what they're talking about rave about this place - it's quirky and makes people feel like they discovered some hidden gem or something.... "Ooooh... they don't serve diet coke? this place must be speeeecial" ... but really a big reason Puccini's is popular is they're BYOB with no corkage so folks go there and feel fiz-ancy about going somewhere small and dark and they can get loaded on the cheap - but the food really isn't anything special and the "service" is rude at best and terrifying at worst. read more

Incredible experience! Every single bite of everything we ordered was busting with delicious flavor! I loved the simplicity of the atmosphere and the humbleness of the chef and his staff. read more

can't get much better than this place fun classy good food byob read more

We frequent Puccinis weekly when we are in town. Love, love the food, atmosphere and especially the people - Chef Rich is fabulous! Never have I been disappointed! Pamela and her adorable mother, Julie along with Patrick and Vera are so friendly and welcoming. They handle every situation with Grace and a big smile! Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

What a shame. The food was outstanding....scallops to die for....but don't dare complain (say if the glasses are dirty?) or be prepared for the chef to come out and confront you in person. From that moment on you could hang meat the attitudes were was so frosty. This not an inexpensive place, one should be able to expect respectful treatment from the staff. Sent from my iPhone read more

It is unfortunate when a restaurant experience is less than the sum of its parts. We had a salad, a Ravioli appetizer and two veal dishes. The salad was drowned in oil and had too much pepper. It would have been nice had the waitress asked about the quantity of pepper at the table. The ravioli was superb; clearly home made; I have never had better. One veal dish was excellent, tender and moist; the other was ok but had garlic in the sauce. The disappointment is that we had emphasized that we were not fans of garlic. The waitress should have sounded the alert. We asked for bread 3 times and never received it. The waitress said that she had not heard the request. Very strange. Also, the entire meal took 75 minutes. We had looked forward to a leisurely romantic evening. I think we would have rated the restaurant higher had the waitressing been up to the standard of the food. LMC read more

Absolutely the best dinner my wife and I have ever eaten out.... and we are from San Francisco. You must go. What I told my friends... Just in case you are in the Sarasota area... go to Puccini's. You would never find this place on your own. Food, fresh ingredients, experience, the chef;s table, etc. is way above and beyond the very best dinner out ever (Chicago, San Fran... anywhere). read more

This is a must go place! The food delicious. It's a wonderful surprise in the out of the way area that you would not know was there. BYOB

Have been here several times and always left full, satisfied and happy. Wonderful experience being able to see the chef cook your food! Will definitely be back again! read more

First time ever! What an experience! What an adventure! What a privilege to experience the mystery! They don't advertise. It's totally word of mouth. You have to leave a message for someone to call you back in order to schedule a reservation. It can take up to 3 days before they respond. And better book early cuz they book up fast especially due high season. They only have a few tables. BYOB! Love that there is no corkage fee. They are located in a sleepy strip mall. Looks deceiving. Doesn't look like anything special from the outside. No big sign to make it easy to find the place. Just a modest storefront with the name Puchini on its door. Oh and there's a scooter outside with the Puchini name on it. Update: there used to be. Now it's gone. Can't see inside. Curtains block the view. You cannot arrive early expecting to have a casual drink once inside. Hmmm... so weird but it's ok. Our reservation is for 6pm. It's 5:55pm. Doors locked. Are we at the right place? 6:02pm doors open. We enter. Quaint, intriguing, cool! I like what I see. Hey, the 4 of us are seated near Chef. He is the star. He looks very serious as he preps his station and starts to create masterpieces. Spices, oil, salt, pepper, pans, tongs etc .... check. Fresh red tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, fennel amongst the ingredients to be used tonight. Wow! He's the Chef and is cooking in front of us! He's talented and a showman! A little of this and that! Toss, Cook, Plate.... Masterpiece! Off it goes, whisked off, steaming hot to the table. We ordered Appetizers: spinach ravioli, home made sausage and peppers, a shrimp dish appetizer and salad. I watched Chef make each one. Wow that was amazing the way he worked! The flavors OMG were remarkable. So fresh! So tasty! Entrees: red snapper with portabella mushrooms over fresh lobster ravioli. Well, they were actually Cremini mushrooms not portabellas like the server had said. They must not had been able to get them for tonight. Oh well, just as delicious. I forgot what the others had. I think it was shrimp and ? fish over lobster ravioli which totally looked awesome. I know my friends thoroughly enjoyed it. I was too busy loving my dish to really pay attention to them. One of the best dinner experiences I've ever had. Let the mystery begin for you..... read more

First, this is not your typical Florida restaurant. No light bright tropical decor. It's dark and heavily draped. I see what they are going for but it feels a little dated. But the food is amazing - truly. Super fresh and delicious!! I had the steak and my husband had the veal medallions (special). Both great. We loved the BYOB - our bill was so cheap compared to our typical night out!! Service was also great - not rushed at all. Loved seeing the chef at work in the dining room as well. Highly recommend! read more

We had a terrific time. The staff were very friendly. The food was excellent. Top notch. Romantic. They have rules. But you can bring your own wine and coffee if you want. Go with the flow. It's worth the effort. read more

Had a reservation for eight people at a chef's table, when we got there we were told they did not have that request. After a half hour, we got the bruschetta which was OK. Appetizers were good, nothing out of this world. Dinners were OK. NY strip steak was chewy. There are too many much better restaurants out there!! 3 out of 4 checks were overcharged by $10. We will NEVER go back!! read more

How does one define culinary delight at its best. Simple......PUCCINI'S. The extraordinary chef (who also happens to be an opera expert) and his talented life partner, Melanie give new heights to the meaning of extraordinary dining. Their wait staff, their atmosphere, their culinary excellence add to the level of legendary dining that Puccini's brings to the Sarasota area. The regular customers like myself want to keep it a secret for ourselves. Alas, it is too late for that. They are best in class, they have incredible meals hand prepared by Richard, staff at your service, atmosphere to enhance the mood and food and charm to end all. Puccini's is as good as it gets for an evening of fine dining. read more

Puccini's has always been one of my favorite restaurants for 'special occasions'. As a previous reviewer noted, we love the BYOB factor. The food is always superior and this visit gave us the same results. However, we were horrified by the ultra fast, rushed service. The waitress was trying to take our apps away before we were even finished. I expect this type of dining experience to last about 2 hours or so; we were fully done in about 1 hour! Again, love the food and will probably be back, but hated the service this time! Also, would it really hurt to get a coffee pot??? read more

Second time there last night. Took friends and my daughter who was in from NJ (home of excellent Italian food). Eclectic atmosphere and service, unusual chef, strange setting; almost impossible to find. I LOVE IT. The food is wonderful and it feels like we are in a friend's house who is an excellent cook. Love the informality. One of my favorite places in Sarasota. read more

I have a personal vendetta against this restraunt. Never in my life have I experienced such rude disrespectful treatment to a customer. My new personal goal is to inform the area of their poor business ethics and hopefully close them down. read more

This place is amazing. I was in Sarasota for 4 days, and I went here twice. Both times was perfect and a great time. I live in Orlando and would have no problem Driving here for dinner. The Chef is Superfantastic, and a very nice guy. The RibEye was so tasty. The Salmon may have been the best Salmon I ever had. Just ate here last night and can't wait to return. Thanks for the great food/night Chef. read more

Do not go to this restaurant. I am giving one star because I can't give minus 10. The food may be good but the chef and owner and his partners are not fit to deal with people. We were a party of 11 and we had a reservation for 7:45 on Saturday. We get there and our table is for 7 and, according to the classless woman who was sitting the poor customers, we could sit 7 of us and have the others wait outside, in the heat, until a table of 4 were vacant. Well, after 20 minutes with no available table, I realized that there were tables in the second portion on the narrow restaurant, three vacant tables. Two for 4 and one for 5. Vacant. As soon as I saw that, the woman sat 5 people in the one table for 5 - or 6. I went to ask her to let us switch, send the 5 people to our table and let us fill the other 3. They would end up with at least one more table for 4. I couldn't get through thick heads the logic of that, especially because I was interrupted all the time. Then the chef said he wouldn't serve us and we should leave and that he was the owner and would serve whomever he pleased, in total disrespect for the LAW! He even threatened to call the police on me, empty threat that never happened. When I asked for his name he said Richard - but just after I insisted that he give it to me. I assume it's Richard Puccini, but not sure. Anyway, we were really concerned with this kind of behavior and we left to go to another restaurant. Want good food, kind and respectful staff? Go to Chianti. That's a place to eat and be merry. read more

We visited the restaurant with a large group. The food was very good and we were having a good time until we were getting up to leave our table. The space is very tight and a server called a group of us "ignorant" when we got in her way. I confronted her and she did not apologize or back down. I reported it to the owner and he didn't seem to think anything about it. There are many restaurants in Sarasota and we will not be returning here!! read more

Celebrated our 1 year together anniversary with friends, started off with antipasto, then 4 grand appetizers, our meals were great, and the pecan pie was off the chain!! read more

This is such an amazing restaurant! Tucked away in a little shopping center with no big reveal of its' existence. Yet when you walk through its' doors you are walking into an intimate, and unique dining experience! The chef is preparing each and every meal from his heart! The service is top notch and reviews of anything less are just false! The is a truly treasured experience and won't be forgotten anytime soon! read more

We have been devoted customers of Puccini's for over 10 years but found out the hard way that there was new chef, and not for the better. We arrived on time for 6:30 reservations but then didn't see a waitress emerge for over a half hour. We then ordered and had to wait 1 hr and 15 minutes for the appetizer. After that, it took until 8:40 for my husbands dinner to be served but not mine. We looked around and saw most other tables were also waiting for food. A couple minutes later, the new chef brought out my dinner and my husband calmly said that we'd been coming here for a long time but waiting over two hours was unacceptable. The chef then picked up our untouched plates and told us to "leave now and never come back". We were stunned, said nothing, and since our food was taken away, we got up to leave, shaken and embarrassed by his treatment of us in front of other guests. We did leave about 8:45, hungry, and will not return. But we were sad to think one of our favorite places was so inhospitable. The food had always been great, but we never got the chance to find out if it still was. read more

Wow or amazing won't accurately describe our experience here. We were welcomed at the door by the Chef/Owner and had a great table by the open kitchen (wish we had the table right next to it). We brought our own bottle of champagne to start the night with and ordered appetizers. Had trouble deciding between the mussels and the lobster in puff pastry in a tomato béchamel sauce to go with the stuffed mushrooms but due his recommendation we ordered the lobster. The lobster is a must have! Turns out we didn't have to decide because after we finished both apps he surprised us with an entire order of the mussels anyway! So glad he did as they were fantastic. I had the roast duck and she had the veal special. Both entrees done to perfection. To finish up I ordered the banana with caramel sauce and it was one of the best desserts I've ever had. So simple yet so flavorful. Everything is cooked fresh to order, right in front of you. No crappy heat lamps to have your food sit under and suffer. The smells coming from the range top and oven were utterly amazing. Please do yourself a favor and instead of hitting your usual favorites make a reservation here. You'll have a new favorite....we sure do!!!! read more

We have been to Pucinni's many times and have always enjoyed great service and wonderful food. It's fun to sit at a table to watch the very talented Chef Richard prepare the meals, always with the freshest ingredients, or to sit at a candle lit table in another part of the restaurant for quiet conversation. We've never been disappointed and go there regularly. Love it! Sue and Mike read more

This is a favorite for us. The menu is limited but that is a good thing. With a single chef you know he making items he likes and is good at. The open kitchen is fun and all ingredients fresh and local if possible. Although no liquor you are welcome to BYOB with no corkage. Try this one - you will be back again. read more

Celebrated a friends birthday here the other night. The food was perfect. Everything was perfectly seasoned. We got 4 appetizers (2 from the daily specials and 2 from the regular menu). We are a group of foodies and were blown away. I opted for a vegetarian entree option and the chef created something that wasn't on the menu...amazing! My husband got the lamb and it was the best he's ever had. The portions are huge, the ambiance is great! Don't forget to bring drinks (they have water on the table) and cash or check for the bill! Oh and the Key Lime pie, pecan pie and lemon cake were to die for! I will be back and I will get all 3 desserts! read more

Very surprised at the unprofessional wait staff...not very organized. Was visiting and brought a local couple....food not that great ... I didn't expect a fancy place but at least good food....nothing different same old stuff that you can get any place. Liked BYOB, but not the spotted glasses given to drink from. Was a little embarrassed to bring guests and expected to treat them to a good dinner. Sorry ! I Would not return again. read more

We celebrated my wife's birthday with our friends the Kursts. Charming restaurant with candles on the walls and opera posters hanging throughout. I had the Branzino over Lobster Ravioli and it was delicious. My wife had the Rack of Lamb which was also outstanding. The desert menu looked tempting but we were too stuffed to consider it. read more

I made a reservation for Sunday, July 5. I was somewhat surprised when a woman from Puccini called me to confirm a day later. When I went to the restaurant on the day and time of the reservation with out of town guests, the restaurant was closed. I called for an explanation and expecting an apology, but so far no response. I assume they couldn't care less. Having been before, I was quite excited and had talked up this place. What a mistake... Never again! read more

What a bizarre dining experience. Six of us had wonderful tasting food but the attitude of our waitress was like being in a Fellini film. (For those of you under 40 check out his bio and films.) Such airs! For someone whose job it is to give diners a pleasant and enjoyable eating experience she may need to rethink her career choice. Decor is wonderful. The very limited menu was enhanced by several delicious sounding (and tasting) chef special apps and entrees. However just looking at the small choice of menu selections before being advised of the specials only gave me one dinner option and I was thinking of making a fast exit. In fact a party of six who sat down behind us shortly after we ordered did just that--left after glancing at the menu with no one to let them know there were other options. After being rebuffed by the wait staff for asking for a soda (only water--remember that) and dressing for our salad on the side I found it most rude and questionable when the server leaned over my friend from the other side of the table and asked me to hand her my finished dinner plate. When desserts were sounded off (all delicious sounding temptations) we asked for espresso (this is an Italian restaurant after all) and were informed "we only have water. No coffee." Our jaws dropped. Quite proud of the fact they never served coffee in the 5 years they've been open she told us we could bring our own! Afterwards my husband spoke with the stepson of owner-chef who was very gracious. He waits on Tues and Wed so if you go, go on those nights and be prepared to go elsewhere for that cappuccino you crave after the meal. read more

The best part of our dinner was the wine we brought. The appetizers we got were tortellini with pesto sauce was a 5 out of 10, a special, NOT. You can make better at home with Buttoni. 2 orders of mussels with white sauce (asked for extra garlic) mussels were fresh at least. the sauce it was cooked in tasted like bland chicken broth, maybe a 2 out of 10. The Entrées, Veal Puccini's very tough, cheese burnt , and flavorless, maybe a 5 of 10, 2 orders of the special shrimp w/Lobster ravioli a whopping $36. Point Blank TERRIBLE. You needed a knife to cut the shrimp. They should be life butter. We didn't order desert. We didn't want to be disappointed any further. Definitely wouldn't come back and not recommend. read more

Okay food but the wait staff dressed like they had just robbed the local homeless shelter (no offense intended to the shelter!) and didn't seem to care about the service. Not that romantic as its really just a room with tables and chairs. We had a group of 8 and ordered a wide variety from the menu including 'specials' but the food overall was mediocre and not worth the price. There are several much better restaurants nearby. read more

We ordered the "special" pompano. My wife and I both felt the fish was not a pompano and was most likely frozen. The accompanying ravioli was tough and rubbery. When we ordered dessert and asked for coffee we were told no coffee was available. When we asked why, with attitude, the answer was; we take care of the food you take care of the drinks. The service was adequate. Our 7:45 table was not ready and we were told to wait outside on the sidewalk for 15 minutes. Not my idea of a class act or good food. read more

Meh! What's the mystery here? I think they get off by having heavy drapes covering the windows and offering only 2 seatings per night trying to make people believe there's something secret here. Please!!!! Just cook me delicious, hot food...I'll pay for it gladly!!!! The thing that bugs me the most is that they DO NOT OFFER SOFT DRINKS ORRRRR COFFEE, TEA OR ESPRESSO. I guess they are not as Italiano as the name implies.....have they even been to Italy? The cook is present in the room but does not look up or make eye contact. He's wearing shorts and chewing gum. Regarding food: mussels appetizer was good however the waitress took away my plate before I was done eating them. The tortellini appetizer was delicious and hot. The steak was large but fatty! My veal puccini was cooked nicely with pastina but there was a spice used that I did not care for..it was overpowering and I muscled through it b/c the meat was cooked nicely. My dining partner said the same thing about her special w/red sauce...so maybe it was a spice he uses in his red sauce. Dessert was nice but I wouldn't have ordered it if I realized that there was no coffee, tea or espresso...Oh Lord wth! I really hope owners read these reviews. I'm not trying to be an ass here but I think you do a lot of things right but there's glaring problems that I can't overlook while paying higher prices. Like I said...I'll pay for superior service and quality (ie Ristorante San Marco in Venice) but I'm not going to pay for the gimmick. Treat the paying customer in a way that at least PRETENDS to care about the customer...I don't give a crap about pleasing YOU. sorry!!!!!!!! Prove me wrong please! read more

Coming to Sarasota for over 25 years, we discovered Pucinni's several years ago when it was at the old location. The food was fantastic and Rich DeFelice, the chef/owner was a gracious host. We returned many times to both the old and current location with family and friends and recommended it to anyone that traveled to the area. On our most recent visit, everything changed. We were seated in the "new" expanded area of the restaurant that resembled something out of the Adams Family-dark paneling on the walls with ornate wall hangings and light fixtures. We asked if we could sit in the other area closer to the "open" kitchen but were told "those tables book months in advance!" The food, unlike our other visits, was far from memorable. The duck tasted like chicken and the risotto that was served as an accompaniment to the meals was so overcooked that I had to ask our server what it was. The only bright spots were the bruschetta and the home-made ravioli that were excellent. In lieu of our past experiences, normally I would give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to a bad night. I do not think this was the case. As we walked out, I noticed that there was an empty table (in the other room) that no one had been seated at for the entire evening. Pucinni's no longer accepts credit cards and it seems that Chef DeFelice has "bitten off more that he can handle" with his expansion. Too bad, it WAS a great restaurant. read more